Multi-Way Flood Valve Layout for Leak-Resistant Wax Dosing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wax flood valves in automobile construction, with functional units arranged on both sides of a ring line, are maintenance-unfriendly, prone to failure, and have complex sealing systems that increase susceptibility to leaks.
Innovation Solution
A multi-way flood valve design with a base frame, valve housing, and control shaft that allows for independent or simultaneous operation of flood outlets and a return opening, featuring a sealed control shaft with axial and radial compensation, eliminating the need for O-rings and simplifying manufacturing, and allowing precise wax dosage control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If functional units are arranged on both sides of the ring line, then multiple flood outlets can be provided, but the sealing system becomes complex and susceptibility to failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional units (flood outlets and control units) onto a single side of the ring line, integrating them into a unified valve body structure. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate sealing systems on both sides, reducing complexity and failure points while maintaining the capability to serve multiple flood outlets through internal channel design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If functional units are arranged on both sides of the ring line, then multiple flood outlets can be provided, but maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is designed with modular segmentation where the valve body can be separated from the actuator assembly, and internal components such as the control shaft and seals are accessible through designated service ports. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to service individual components without disassembling the entire system, significantly improving maintainability while supporting multiple flood outlets.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sealing systems are provided on both sides of the ring line, then multiple flood outlets can be controlled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sealing functions into a single sealing system located on one side of the ring line. The valve body design incorporates internal flow channels that direct wax flow to multiple flood outlets without requiring separate sealing interfaces for each outlet, thereby reducing sealing complexity while maintaining full control capability over multiple outlets.
4Reliability
If control shaft is guided with bearings, then frictional wear is eliminated, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control shaft is designed with self-aligning features including tapered sections and complementary grooves that automatically establish proper alignment and clearance during assembly. The bearing seats incorporate self-adjusting mechanisms that compensate for minor manufacturing variations, allowing the system to achieve wear-free operation without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a multi-way flood valve, in particular for flooding cavities with hot wax in automotive manufacturing, comprising a base frame (6), a valve housing (8) with a lateral access (12), at least two flood outlets (9A, 9B) and a return opening (13) for the hot wax, an actuator (5) fixed to the base frame (6), a control unit for controlling the actuator (5), and a control shaft (4) connected to the actuator (5), which is guided on the inner wall of the valve housing (8) and is suitable for opening or closing the access (12), the flood outlets (9A, 9B) and the return opening (13), wherein the control shaft (4) has recesses that open the access (12), the flood outlets (9A, 9B) and the return opening (13), such that the flood outlets (9A, 9B) can be opened individually or together, with the flood outlets being opened together (9A,9B) the access (12) is closed and, in the case of jointly released flood outlets (9A, 9B) and closed access, the return opening (13) is open.